Emma Amaize
WARRI- SHELL Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, Nigeria Limited, weekend, dismissed the allegation by some community leaders that  the  multi-national oil firm has abandoned  Batan community in Diebiri kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.

Contrary to the claim by spokesman of Diebiri kingdom, Mr. Victor Edoukumo, that the company had not added value to the lives of the people, SPDC said it was presently handling a N92.7 million electricity interdependency project in the community in addition to other completed projects.

The company in a response by Mr. Joseph Obari of its Media Department in Warri said, “The claim that SPDC JV has not contributed to the development of Batan community is not true, the  SPDC is currently completing an N92.7m electricity Interdependency project in the community”, adding, “In 2007, members of the community benefitted from a N6 million micro-credit scheme”.

Spokesman of Diebiri kingdom, Mr. Victor Edoukumo had in a statement accused the company of operating in the area since 1960 without any benefit to the people. Specifically, he said, “The community is still wallowing in unprecedented poverty, there is no employment of youths, no evidence of Shell presence here, we have been denied our right.”

“Before 1995, we were relating with SPDC as host community but since then everything changed. There are no social amenities to show for their many years, go to their yards it is a small London but our community is a shackle, they made so many promises that they will develop the area, they will reclaim land for us to relocate to, they will construct jetty, school, houses, market, hospital, public toilet, transportation means and skill acquisition centre but till date none has been done”, he added.

Mr. Obari disagreed with the community leader, pointing out that besides the ongoing electricity project, “Other key projects completed in the community before 2006 included the construction of the Diebiri-Batan Jetty; supply of boats to improve transportation, economic empowerment programmes, various micro-credit schemes and entrepreneur training/youth training programmes”, he said.

Obari added, “The SPDC has continued to enjoy a cordial relationship with the Batan community even after it stopped operations in the community and other areas of Delta State in 2006, in the wake of militancy in the Niger Delta”.

According to him, “Prior to our entry into Batan field last year, a stakeholders’ sensitisation forum was held where the commitment of all was obtained towards the success of the Re-entry project. In furtherance of this commitment, the Batan community like other host communities has provided the needed enabling environment for SPDC and its contractors in their own areas”.

“However, on January 13, 2011, some youths from Batan community disrupted work in the Batan field, because SPDC did not pay out cash to them, as re-entry fee.  Field work resumed three days later after the leaders of the community intervened.  We are meeting with the community leadership to resolve the issue”, he asserted.